Kobe, Dwight headed to Houston together

Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard have made recent progress in their relationship, and they'll get some more potential bonding time when they travel together via private jet late Thursday night to the NBA's All-Star weekend in Houston.

Bryant's wife, Vanessa, is expected to on board also, but Bryant last season used the extra time during the All-Star break in Orlando to strengthen his bond with Lakers teammate Andrew Bynum.

"The All-Star break was really when our bond cemented itself," Bryant said last season. "Even though we were around so many of our other peers, it was just he and I. We were always around each other and we really didn't care what the other guys were doing.

"It was really about us and being in constant communication: 'What are you doing? Let's go out. Let's hang out. Let's grab some dinner.' "

Howard hopes the trip will have a similar result.

"We’ll see how it goes," he said. "The biggest thing for us is first to get some rest and at the sametime I want to do as much as I can in the gym to get in better shape to get ready for the second half of the season.

"It has to get better."

Asked in what areas that bond could be strengthened, Howard said "It's personal."

Bryant, however, suggested the relationship is fine focusing on basketball.

"It’s where it should be," Bryant said about him and Howard. "The communication that I have with him is about execution and about what he needs to do on the court. That’s where it’s going to stay."

The Lakers won't gather to restart the season after the All-Star break until Tuesday afternoon practice. They have two home games first up: Boston on Wednesday and Portland two days later.

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